ASU Baseball: Sun Devils stay hot in midweek win over San Diego

After a dominant 12-2 win against San Diego on Wednesday night, ASU baseball has now scored 58 runs in just four games, improving to 4-0 on the season.

ASU’s hot bat of the day was Drew Swift, as he recorded three hits and three RBIs on Wednesday. San Diego had two players, Tora Otsuka and Max Jung-Goldberg, lead the team with two hits each.

Both teams pulled their starters after one inning, but San Diego seemingly planned to pull their starter while ASU did not. ASU’s Sam Romero was swapped due to a rough second inning performance, but coach Tracy Smith was satisfied with the performances of his relievers.

“I think for the situations, those guys had to shut it down,” Smith said. “Chaz (Montoya) coming in there and getting a big strike out and Brady (Corrigan) doing the same thing, that was a positive.

“I was very proud of those guys for doing the job, and getting their strikes.”

Left fielder Trevor Hauver, sticking with his early trend, walked three times tonight. He’s walked 11 times in his first four games. Smith praised his ability to get on base and work any count he’s presented with.

“Everybody’s got a job to do, and if everybody does their job, it helps the team,” Smith said. “His role is to get on base, by any means necessary. He has a good eye at the plate, it’s key for our team’s success, and it’s key for the guys hitting behind him, and he’s doing a tremendous job.”

Smith also had plenty to say about Swift, who not only had a team-leading three hits at the plate, but turned an impressive double-play at the defensive end.

“I got a ground ball the inning before, and I wasn’t able to make the play, but the same ball came my way that next time,” Swift said, “I really liked that play, I enjoyed that one a lot.”

Swift mentioned the amount of time he’s put in on his swing, and how his nerves have calmed since the opening series, both things that led to a successful performance at the plate.

Swift admitted to giving first baseman Spencer Torkelson a “hard time” about not having his first home run, an event that happened Wednesday night against San Diego.

“It felt really good [to get his first home run], because everyone was giving me a hard time about it,” Torkelson said. “It felt like a weight off my shoulders.

“Before the at bat, [Smith] said he was bored with all my singles, and that he wants me to hit a home run right now.”

Torkelson noted that there’s “no easy outs” in the ASU lineup, and after four games, that seems to be true. With four straight games with double-digit scoring, the Sun Devils are 4-0, and look to keep things rolling against UC Davis at Phoenix Municipal Stadium this weekend.